Settling in behind the wheel of theall-new Mazda3small car reaffirms it's taken a big step forward in terms of interior presentation and the perception of quality.

Metal-look finishes, nicely textured plastics and a clear but detailed instrument cluster combine with some red stitching and a leather finished steering wheel to provide an upmarket flavour. Only the roof lining is a notch down from the higher standards set by some more expensive European machinery.

Mazda3 video review

Added maturity, ambience and driving finesse for third generation Mazda3

It's arguably the area that needed most attention in the 3, a car that's found no shortage of followers - it was thebest seller in 2011 and 2012 - but one that's come under attack from new arrivals, fresher competitors and more ambitious players such as the Volkswagen Golf.

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It was hardly an extensive review, just 10 or 20 kilometres around the closed facility that also caters for trucks and cars undergoing development or training.

But it was enough to learn that the 3 has a newfound maturity that in some ways brings it closer to European rivals.

Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders even boldly suggests the 3 could tempt buyers out of entry level models from some more highly fancied European brands, such asMercedes-Benz and Audi.

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Key to the changes are a less direct steering feel, which may in some ways may seem like a step backwards. The immediacy and accuracy that characterise the steering in the current Mazda3has gone, replaced with a more docile initial response said by engineers to give more realistic response to driver inputs. Around town it may not feel as alert, although our mainly highway speeds drive didn't allow us to experience that.

But at higher speeds there is an added sense of security and less nervousness, especially on quick direction changes. The steering also builds weight more naturally while still having a litheness that makes it easy to manoeuvre.

Push too hard into a corner and it still leans predictably on its front tyres, eventually pushing wide and triggering the stability control system. But there's a feeling of solidity and reassurance that makes it a capable and competent device.

Road noise has long been a Mazda3 bugbear and while it's still noticeable on coarser surfaces, it's more muted than before. The jury is still out, though, on how it will perform in everyday running about.

New engines are also a win for the Mazda3, bringing improved performance and fuel economy.

While we didn't have a chance to test the fuel use in our brief stint, the on-paper numbers (albeit notoriously difficult to match) tell an impressive story. The 2.0-litre engine that will be the volume seller is claimed to use 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres, while the more powerful 2.5-litre is also great at 6.0L/100km.

The 2.0-litre engine is also a beauty from a performance perspective. Hooked up to the standard six-speed manual gearbox it feels punchy from 2000 or 3000rpm, pulling cleanly as it builds revs. It also doesn't mind a rev, happily spinning towards 7000rpm.

The 2.5-litre doesn't rev as hard but has more muscle across its slightly narrower rev range. Driving through the optional six-speed automatic it is smooth in its power dealer and responsive to throttle inputs. There's also respectable pull delivered linearly throughout the rev range.

One minor criticism is the six-speed auto; while it works fine under hard acceleration, when cruising at 100km/h and when in the brief stint of regular driving we managed, during some more spirited corners it was perhaps too eager to select a taller gear instead of intuitively holding the one it's in. There's a self-shifter mode and paddle-shifters for the times when you want to tell it the best gear, though.

Another minor gripe are the new door pockets, which are made for bottles, not iPads or books.

Otherwise our initial very brief impression of the 3 take three is a class act and a car set to add more intensity to an already competitive small car category.

Stay tuned for full pricing and details of the new-generation Mazda3 as they come to hand.